A team of scientists claim to have created what they call the blackest material ever produced by human hands. The material absorbs virtually all of the light that hits its surface.

Developed by researchers from Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology , the material has been made of carbon nanotubes to help absorb the light.

nature.com

A series of nanoparticle spheres having a nano-cylinder resting on top of it, the resulting surface is able to absorb 98 to 99 percent of light in the spectrum between 400 and 1,400nm. It achieves that regardless of the angle and polarisation at which the light hits it.

While there are other materials that are said to be absorbing more light at specific points in the spectrum , this material absorbs more across a wider range—managing to absorb 26 percent more light than any other known material.